Russian Open: Mikael Lundberg regains title

Sweden’s Mikael Lundberg lived up to his own hype to claim a second Russian
Open title in four years.

By Olga Rickards in Moscow

12:53AM BST 28 Jul 2008

Lundberg, winner in Moscow in 2005, boasted after his second round: “I feel that I don’t have to beat anyone around here – they have to beat me.”

The 34-year-old was proved correct after a final round of 68 gave him a 21-under-par total at Le Meridien Moscow Country Club and a two-shot victory over Spain’s Jose Manuel Lara.

England’s Benn Barham birdied the last to finish third on 18 under, with the Norwegian Jan Are Larsen a shot further back in fourth. Englishman Jamie Moul, a former world amateur No1, shot a closing 73 to fall back into a tie for sixth, having been one shot off the lead overnight.

“This is my favourite place, everything is great here,” added Lundberg, who had previously failed to register a top-10 finish this year.”

The Swede, who missed the cut in his previous two events, not only took home £166,000 but also earned a two-year European Tour exemption.